Hi all,

I hope you are enjoying the warmer weather (well, it WAS, but today is a bit nippy!). I've just got home from Pilates. Every week I think urrrrghh but come out feeling a hundred times better than when I went in. I do have chronic trochanteric bursitis though and we did a LOT of hip work today, so the next few nights are going to be interesting trying to sleep. Hey ho. It's worth it.

My news is that I have finally got my website up and running. That has been some process, I can tell you. I went from the idea of creating a website being like trying to read a Greek manuscript, to actually doing it, including adjusting the mobile option, which I didn't know you could do. If you fancy taking a look, it would make the effort worthwhile. You will find it at juliegoodall.co.uk.

Life has been a bit all over the place recently with some awful family news. I am trying to keep on track a bit, even if not quite as productively as I might be, but there are things that are far more important. I have to confess to feeling pretty useless. It puts everything into perspective and the emotions are pretty sharp.

So, I will move onto things that I CAN control (or things I THINK I can control...). As I said, I've mostly been working on my website, but also doing a lot of admin stuff, plus I sent in a short story to The People's Friend recently. Last week, 'Bundles of Joy' came out and I had a lovely email saying how much it had taken this person back to her time in hospital giving birth decades ago. There was a specific memory that it prompted and I felt very privileged to hear it.

That has got to be the best thing about writing.

I am also still rewriting 'Secret Santa' and am nearly 4/5 of the way through so I am getting there very slowly. I am rewriting pretty much every sentence so it is infinitely slower than when I first wrote it. There are also a few tweaks I want to make along the way but, again, I will get there eventually. I have three novels plotted out so I have to decide what to work on next. The cowboy/horsey ones or the clergy/mystery set in 1932? I don't know. I don't think I will go back to my gothic novel yet as that is a huge undertaking and I think I need to do something fresh first before revisiting something I started. I'm 88,000 words into that.

As I've been writing this, I've had some welcome good news. Our closest friends' son and his partner became parents this morning! That is indeed something to celebrate. Looks like a trip to Suffolk is on the cards...😊 

Finally, as Steven Pressfield said, whatever you want to do: "Start before you’re ready."

I don't think we ever feel ready for anything much so, whatever you fancy doing, dive right in and do it. We all know that life is too short to delay.

Enjoy!

Julie x

Bodies, mysteries and space

A big hello to everyone! I am back on dry land after a wonderful thirteen nights away to warmer climes (well, for the first five days or so). There were a lot of sea days so I managed to get 72 pages of Secret Santa rewritten. I'm now over halfway so I WILL get there eventually. There is always something that crops up and gets in the way, but I will plough on regardless. I desperately want to upload it to Amazon to replace the first edition, which was a big rush job and basically a first draft. I have been deleting whole paragraphs all over the place. I think it will end up a bit shorter! lol

I read two books on holiday and two thirds of another one. First of all...

Miss Blaine's Prefect is by Olga Wojtas, a woman I studied alongside for a couple of modules when I did my OU degree. She is an incredibly talented writer and extremely smart! This definitely comes across in her writing, as does her humour. It is hard to categorise this novel into a specific genre. It is a mystery/time-hop/gentle comedy, and so much more. There are four in the series so far, so if you love it, it doesn't have to stop there! https://amzn.eu/d/0bFK1oFf

I bought A Body at the Altar because I fancied reading a light cozy crime/mystery. Again, I had no idea how much I would enjoy this. It was a nice, easy, light read, and a great plot. It is also part of a series (7 books, I think). This was book 4 so I've bought Book 1 for when I fancy reading another one. https://amzn.eu/d/0dLixh9j

I'm sure you can guess why I ordered this! Jon read it too and finished it before I did, but then I did read the other two books at the same time (This one was on Audible so I listened when walking around the ship or out on deck.) I was a bit unsure about it in some ways as I'm not a huge sci-fi fan. There is also a lot of science and maths in it, but Andy Weir writes in such a way as to make it fascinating. He is quite obviously a total genius. It was narrated by Ray Porter. Suffice to say I will look out other books that he has narrated. https://amzn.eu/d/0dVBTqpl And, yes, the movie was brilliant. I had no idea how they had managed to adapt it to screen but they did an incredible job.

On the home front, I sold a story last week and sent in two new ones. I also sent in two Christmas stories just before I went on holiday, so fingers crossed. One story went straight through to the main fiction editor which doesn't often happen that quickly. Encouraging!

I'm still rewriting Secret Santa (it's taking SO long) but yesterday I sent A Match Made in Heaven to Spotify to be considered for their audible books. I will do the same for All The King's Horses and Sandy Stables. It seems they expect the writers to have a website so that has given me the impetus to finish the one I started setting up a couple of months ago. It is not my forte so a bit overwhelming.

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the start of the longer evenings. Please do comment your thoughts if you feel so inclined.

Today's thought...

'Civilization begins when everyone eats. Democracy begins when everyone reads.'

Willy Thorn

'Books are a uniquely portable magic'

 I've been having a lovely time recently reading Margret Geraghty's serial 'Mending Fences' in recent The People's Friend weekly magazine. It's horse-themed so right up my street and I love her writing. You can get subscription offers on Readly to get back issues of so many magazines (no, I'm not sponsored, lol - I do use Readly, and I have a printed subscription of TPF as well). Highly recommended. You can also read the People's Friend Pocket Novels on Readly. I think they include some newspapers now, too.

Also, if you are a budding writer, or even a seasoned one who fancies some inspiration, Margret has written a couple of books called 'The Five-Minute Writer' and 'More Five-Minute Writing'. You'll never be lost for inspiration again. See link Amazon.com: Margret Geraghty: books, biography, latest update

I've also been reading 'Lost in the Outback' by Alan C Williams. It's great to be lost Down Under and get away from reality. Even better to learn that he has just had a serial published so it won't be over when it's over! Amazon.co.uk: Alan C. Williams: books, biography, latest update

It's been hard to concentrate lately as I'm sure everyone has been finding. It would be possible to scroll through the news reels all day and I'm having to make sure I stay on track with other input and output! At the moment, we're watching Season 2 of The Night Manager.  It took longer than the first season to draw us in, but now that we have reached and watched episode 4, it has gripped us.  I also discovered, by accident, that I somehow hadn't watched the final episode of this season's Call The Midwife so I still have that to look forward to. I can't wait, although I have a strong suspicion that it I am going to need a whole box of tissues. On a normal episode, I probably get through two or three (tissues, not boxes😀).

I'm still ploughing through the edit/rewrite of the stories for my book Kaleidoscope. It is taking longer than I had anticipated, but everything seems to so I guess I just generally underestimate everything in life.

I'm also still fiddling about trying to decide on a website builder. Might get that done before 2027...

I hope you are enjoying everything you are reading, writing or watching. 

• “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” — Stephen King

So true! And now, with ebooks, they are more portable than ever. 

Imagine life without books 😧

 

Two paperbacks out now

 Hi to all my fellow readers and writers out there. Today I really felt as if Spring is on its way. The sun was out and at times it was actually warm. It certainly lifts the spirits.

It feels like I have been working on preparing my two books for publication for months, but I have certainly learned a lot and will be much wiser next time around. I am now working on a book of short stories, which will also contained 'Sandy Stables', which was a serial and is now a short novella. In the meantime, A Match Made in Heaven and All The King's Horses are now on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and about to be on Amazon in paperback any day now. If you read them, I hope you enjoy them.

All The King's Horses eBook : Goodall, Julie: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

A Match Made In Heaven eBook : Goodall, Julie: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

The links will also lead to the paperbacks.

I was happy to have a Valentine's Day story out in the People's Friend weekly on 14th Feb.  It was nice to be in the weekly as I seem to have had most of my stories in the Specials for ages. It will be due to the length of the stories, which has made me realise which length stories I must automatically prefer writing!

For a while, I've been making notes and mulling over an idea for another novel - possibly a pocket novel for The People's Friend. Two nights ago, very inconveniently, I woke up suddenly at 5am with the first few lines of the novel in my head and a whole first scene. This never happens that way so of course I had to get my phone and write it down in notes. Then I just kept writing the whole scene and one and a half hours later I had to put the phone down and pick up my kindle to try and calm my brain down. However, I can't really do anything else with it just yet as I'm editing/rewriting short stories to put in my books of short stories.

Ruth and I went to see 'Crime 101' this evening. It was excellent and we both really liked the ending. Mark Ruffalo was in it - one of my favourite actors. And Chris Hemsworth. A lot of well-known actors actually.

It's getting late and I need to start thinking about creating a website, but maybe not tonight as I've just seen it's 11.29pm (eek).

Night everyone. Happy reading, whatever you're reading right now. Sleep well.

A Match Made in Heaven on Amazon Kindle/Kindle Unlimited

 Hi everyone. I hope you are all doing well, despite the world around us going somewhat downhill.

It seems to me the perfect time to lose ourselves in books. I am reading a writer friend's book right now, which is set in Australia. It's by Jill Barry, who is very prolific. Wonderful to escape down under😍

Today's fabulous news is that 'A Match Made in Heaven' is now available on Amazon Kindle (£2.49) and Kindle Unlimited under the publisher Rywood Books. I'm obviously thrilled.

Some more good news is that I signed with Ulverscroft last week, so 'A Match...' will also be in libraries in large print format on July 1st 2026. This will be the Pocket Novel version that came out under the publisher D C Thomson.

I'll update when it is available in paperback on Amazon too.

I have a Valentine's Day story in The People's Friend weekly magazine next week and will add that when it's out. In the meantime, I'm really looking forward to seeing 'Wuthering Heights' at the cinema next week. I saw 'Is This Thing On?' on Tuesday...the movie based on John Bishop's marriage...which was excellent. Surprising that they didn't use 'John' as the main character but used a fictional character instead, but perhaps the American audience isn't that aware of him?

Bearing in mind all the happenings across the pond, I decided to have a bash at listening to the 'The Handmaids Tale' on audiobook. I only started it today on a dog walk so it'll be a while before I get through the first book. This was initiated by listening to Margaret Atwood on Desert Island Discs.

A week ago, I was down The Bull in Ilchester listening to Grey Wolves, a local(ish) band. They did a set in our garden for my 60th birthday party in the summer and were amazing. It was a great night and I got home very late/early😬.

I hope you are all OK out there. Let me know any book recommendations in the comments. I love hearing what people are reading.

Multiple projects

 Happy New Year everyone! It is COLD today so I hope you are keeping warm.

I hope that you had a good Christmas as well with lots of love and laughter. Ours was great, with lots of fun and plenty of games, and I always feel lucky to be able to celebrate with the family as it wasn't always possible for a number of years.

I'd intended to take a break from writing between Christmas and New Year but the universe had other ideas. I ended up writing two Christmas stories which I will have to store on file until April as I can't submit them before then. I also had an idea for another one, sparked by our neighbour's cat going missing, and was about to write it when I saw an advert for a competition for stories involving cats! The universe was yet again intervening so, although I haven't entered a competition for a few years, I wrote it according to the desired length. Again, it has to be shelved, but not for long. I can submit it on 20th January.

I saw a new PF Special magazine out just before Christmas and scrolled through to see which of my writer friends were in it. Imagine my surprise when I saw that I had one in there too! I had forgotten PF had bought my Christmas story. No idea if they bought it last year or the one before (sometimes they get held over), but it was a lovely surprise. The subject was one close to my heart too, which made me even happier.

In addition, Ulverscroft have accepted the large print version of 'A Match Made In Heaven', which will go into libraries in August. I have just sent an enquiry to see if they are interested in the large print version of 'All The King's Horses' so fingers crossed. I'm in the process of getting 'A Match Made in Heaven' onto kindle.

I have to admit to being very stressed when I discovered that all the covers etc that I purchased from Getcovers would be disappearing from Dropbox in January as I didn't want to have to purchase yet ANOTHER subscription. They really do all add up! Imagine my joy when I found out that there is a free version of Dropbox for 2GB, which will definitely do me for now. Happy Days!

Here's one of my covers. I love it. 

My present projects are a bit widespread...format and get pocket novels onto Amazon KDP, continue rewriting 'Secret Santa' to prepare for Amazon KDP, edit and continue writing my gothic novel (88,000 words so far), continue plotting another pocket novel, choose some short stories and format them into a book for Amazon KDP, format 'All the King's Horses' for Amazon, and so forth. Plus writing short stories, of course. I am trying hard to not feel overwhelmed but, at present, I don't have a logical progress plan. I need to prioritise as I also want to fit in a Level 2 course that is free online via the government. It is on Digital Media Marketing, which I think will be useful as I know next to nothing about it really.

Anyone know how to purchase a parallel life?

On Wednesday evening, I doing another painting session, this time in Somerton. I love the other paintings I've done at other sessions elsewhere and am hoping this will also be OK enough to put on my wall. One of the previous ones I have just taken down as it was very Christmassy. It will go away with the decorations until next December.

It was funny, the first time I did one of these sessions. I was so worried about messing up, I went home stiff as a board with a horrendous headache. The next time, I kept reminding myself to relax and enjoyed it a lot more.

Well, I'll stop now as this is long enough. I'd love to hear what you are up to. Feel free to comment!

Happy New Year and may the sun continue to shine like it is today...

Julie.

Exciting times!

 Hi all,

I hope everyone reading this is well and navigating the pressures of the festive season. Trying to add Christmas into an already packed schedule can sometimes feel a bit much, but then it is always worth it 'on the day'.

It's been a few months since I blogged so I have a resolution that my New Year's resolution (lol) will be to blog once a month. That should be doable in the grand scheme of things.

Watch this space.

Life in general has been a rollercoaster since August. Family members have faced, and are facing, various challenges, but with a great deal of fortitude, of which I am so proud. Mr G and I went on holiday a few weeks ago but it already seems somewhat surreal. I now can barely imagine sitting on a sunbed in 30 degree heat. There were a lot of sea days on the cruise and, before going, I decided I was going to start completely rewriting/editing 'Secret Santa', a My Weekly pocket novel that was published in 2012. It was also sold to Ulverscroft and went into libraries. On the ship, I managed to rewrite 88 pages, which was a fantastic start. Not quite halfway through, but not too far off. I am also formatting it for Amazon KDP as I go.

During the Black Friday sale, I took advantage of an offer and ordered 4 book covers from Getcovers and am delighted with the results. Three are for previous pocket novels and one is for a book of short stories, which will include my The People's Friend serial 'Sandy Stables'. I have managed to get through the KDP process with 'A Match Made in Heaven' and it seems like I might be ready to launch it very soon. Exciting and scary stuff! Then I will make my way through the others, formatting and going through the same process. 

Mid November, my The People's Friend pocket novel 'All The King's Horses' came out.  I loved the cover.

I sold a short story to The People's Friend a couple of days ago and had one in the recent Special.

My gothic novel is 88,000 words in and still on the backburner because of all the KDP work, which is obviously very time-consuming. Still, they say you can't push a rope. Indeed. Step by step and all that.

So, how is everyone coping with the demands of Christmas? Presents bought and wrapped? Cards written? (ahem). This year I decided that, as Mr G is retired, there was no reason why he couldn't write at least some of the cards.

No. I wasn't popular, by the look on his face. 

😄🎄🎅

Finally, so sad to see that Sophie Kinsella died. What a loss to the book world. What talent she had.

😭